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Mr. Charles E. "Chuck" GilbertGREENSBORO – Mr. Charles E. “Chuck” Gilbert , 79, of Greensboro, died Tuesday, July 20, 2010.Mr. Gilbert’s memorial celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2010, at West Market Street United Methodist Church, 302 West Market Street, Greensboro. Interment will be in the Columbarium at West Market Street United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service on Friday in the Gathering Space of West Market Street United Methodist Church. A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Robert Henry Gilbert, Jr. and Mary Ross Pigford Gilbert. And, he was proud to be what he described as the “favorite” (and only) son-in-law of the late Rev. J. Doane Stott and Flora Belle Dawson Stott. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Belle Gilbert of Greensboro; daughter, Mary Lynne Gilbert of Greensboro; son, Charles Donald Gilbert and wife Amal of Simsbury, Connecticut; two granddaughters, Alia Leeann Gilbert and Nadia Irshaid Gilbert, of Simsbury, Connecticut; brother, Robert Henry Gilbert, III and wife Dolores of Durham; and many other relatives and friends. Mr. Gilbert was a graduate of New Hanover High School, class of 1949, in Wilmington, North Carolina and Duke University, class of 1953. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 in Heidelberg, Germany primarily as a cryptographer. He worked for Burlington Industries for 41 years, and was Director of Corporate Purchasing at his retirement in July, 1994. Charles was a man of deep faith, and an active member and servant leader of West Market Street United Methodist Church, where he served as a regular adult Sunday School class teacher for over 35 years. His service at West Market also included serving as Lay Leader, as member of the Administrative Board, as Co-Chair of Older Adult Ministry, as Co-President of Friendship Club, as chairman of Council on Ministries, as a Methodist Youth Fellowship leader, and as chairman or member of numerous other committees and teams. He was a member and past president of the Friendship Sunday School Class; he enjoyed planning for class socials and serving as master of ceremonies for those occasions. In the Greensboro District of the United Methodist Church he served as Co-Chair of the Greensboro District Mission Society and Co-Chair of Older Adult Ministry. He served as a Mobile Meals volunteer for many years and as a Greensboro Urban Ministry volunteer to pick up food at the Farmer’s Market. He was a member of Lions Clubs International for 52 years, and served as president of Lions Clubs six times through the years in St. Pauls, Fayetteville, and for both the Greensboro and Hamilton Lakes Lions Clubs. He also served in several positions for Lions Clubs District 31-D, including Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer. He was a past member of the Greensboro Jaycees, where he served as chairman of the Soap Box Derby, chairman of the Greater Greensboro Open (GGO) Sponsor Banquet, and chairman of the GGO Manpower Committee. He also served as Secretary and as First Vice President, and was a member of the Greensboro Jaycees Oldtimers. His other community service included advisor for Greensboro Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts, various United Way committees, the Burlington Industries committee for the renovation of the Greensboro Urban Ministry Pathways Family Shelter, as member of the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center of Central North Carolina, and as member and volunteer small business consultant for the Greensboro Chapter of SCORE. He enjoyed his hobbies of gardening, fishing, reading, playing card games, traveling, and making people laugh. He especially enjoyed sharing the bounty of his garden with friends and neighbors. Charles was a loving son, brother, nephew, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, business colleague, and friend who firmly believed that he had a long and wonderful life. He shared his love of life in so many ways, building the lives of others through his generosity, hospitality, and caring spirit. He was a person with an especially positive outlook on life, even in the last years when he wasn’t always feeling his best. One of his remarkable gifts was his ability to connect almost any event, situation, or statement to an appropriate song, when he would say, “that reminds me of a song!”, and then proceed to sing the first line. And, his family and friends never had to wonder about the date of his birthday, because one of his favorite ways to have some fun was to remind anyone listening that his birthday was December 13th! He was a bright spirit, interested in the lives of his family and friends, and he enjoyed being together and sharing joys and sorrows with those he loved. The family wishes to thank family and friends for the many visits, calls, cards, and other expressions of love during the final weeks of Charles’ life. The family also wishes to thank Dr. Arthur G. Green, MD; Dr. Donald S. Murinson, MD; Dr. Anand Hongalgi, MD; and the staffs of Wesley Long Community Hospital and Camden Place Health and Rehab for the wonderful loving care given to Charles. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Music Fund, or the Older Adult Ministry Fund, of West Market Street United Methodist Church, PO Box 870, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-0870. The family is being served by Forbis & Dick Funeral Service., N. Elm Street. Online condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com. |
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